Louisiana Governor's Race Starts Now

We've had a Sunday and a Monday to wipe the nasty taste of the United States Senate election out of our mouths in Louisiana. Just as we're starting to cleanse our political palate comes another potential foul taste. It's the 2015 Louisiana Governor's race.

Right now the race for the big house in Baton Rouge is relatively quiet but that will certainly change by October 24th. By that time you and I will have been subjected to a barrage of negative ads, trashy comments, forests of political signage, and tawdry innuendos. Just so we can put a person of integrity in our state's top job. Ironic isn't it?

Here's the way one political pundit, Dr. Pearson Cross a political science professor at U.L., sees the race shaping up. Right now the man to beat is sitting United States Senator David Vitter. Says Cross in a story published by the Louisiana Radio Network,

"Vitter has nailed down the conservative side of the spectrum in Louisiana,"

That certainly bodes well for his campaign. Who might be the challenger to Senator Vitter? There has been speculation that New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu might toss his hat into the Governor's race but Cross doesn't see that as a wise strategy.

"If you're a Landrieu, now is not the time to be running for a statewide office,"

Cross is referencing the just completed Senate campaign in which Mary Landrieu took quite a thumping.The only Democrat currently in the race is State Representative John Bel Edwards. If you said "Who?" you wouldn't be alone. Mr. Edwards certainly has his work cut out for him in the quest for name recognition.

Other candidates already creating a stir in the political waters for Governor are Scott Angelle who serves on the Public Service Commission. Angelle is certainly well known in Acadiana but might not have the statewide name recognition as Vitter or another candidate, Jay Dardenne. Dardenne is currently the state's Lt. Governor so his name is known throughout the state already.

There could be others who choose to enter the muddy waters of the race for Governor and chances are the tide of public opinion will certainly ebb and flow like the brackish waters of a mud bottom bayou between now and late October.

Get ready to get dirty all over again Louisiana. It's a good thing we like our politics like we like our football, a lot mud, a lot of dirty, and a lot of hard hits.

Filed Under: david vitter, jay dardenne, john bel edwards, louisiana governor, scott angelle

Categories: Political

Sick Of Louisiana Politics? Too Bad, The Governor’s Race Starts Now